Why hundreds of people have been gathering near the new Sugar Creek light rail station

Right now, the unopened Sugar Creek light rail station is a little tricky to find from the street. You veer off North Tryon Street not far from NoDa Brewing Company, drive past some road closure signs and then you finally glimpse it: the glassed-in station structure behind a white, 45,000-square-foot warehouse.

And there, right behind the building and butting up to the station, is an expansive beer garden and a portable, outdoor concert stage bordered by shipping containers that operate as bars.

Whether the concert venue stays could also be dependent on who moves into the building. The warehouse, which right now is just a backdrop to the amphitheater, is getting cleaned up and prepared for the right mix of tenants that could range from breweries to coworking companies.

“I’m kind of the flame to attract the moth,” said Tilyard.

The arts are here — now the businesses can join.

“I like the idea of having this thing happen and it developing into a cool cultural thing, kind of like NoDa used to be,” he said.

Tilyard ultimately envisions a multi-use courtyard that can be an amphitheater, a hangout and an overall versatile space.

“Maybe a NoDa-meets-South-End-y kind of vibe, so it’s a little bit cleaner-edge but a little bit funky at the same time,” Tilyard said. “The location is amazing and it’s just a matter of getting the right group of people together to make it pop.”